1. Safe Movement of Residents, Health and Wellness at Work and at Home for STNA’s
Cleveland State University and Jennings Center for Older Adults
Grant Program Funded by the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation Ohio Safety and Health Research Program

2. Program Objectives Participants Will
Review and Practice Safe Movement of Residents in Every Day Activities at Jennings Center for Older Adults Upper Level Neighborhood
Identify Factors that Lead to Productive, Injury Free, and Satisfying Work Lives
Identify and Apply Methods to Balance Work, Self Care, and Leisure in their Daily Lives

3. Important Statistics related to Safe Movement of Residents
In 2010, nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants had the highest rates of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of all occupations with an incidence of 249 per 10,000 compared to 34 per 10,000 for all workers (Labor, 2012
The financial burden of back injuries in the healthcare industry is estimated to add up to $20 billion annually.
In healthcare, one of the most frequent causes of injury is the manual handling of patients. Musculoskeletal disorders are aggravated by working in awkward postures with very repetitive or static forceful exertions.

4. Important Statistics related to Safe Movement of Residents
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs, or referred to in Ohio as STNA’s) have a higher risk of work absenteeism due to spinal pain.
Nursing aides are particularly susceptible to manual handling injuries because they have the primary responsibility for heavy lifting.
If a CNA tries to catch a patient who is falling, large compressive forces are applied to the spine (Andersen & Simonsen, 2005).

5. Important Statistics related to Safe Movement of Residents
Risk of an injury due to lifting is greater among CNAs compared to nurses for both non-lost work time and lost work time injuries.
Most of the injuries requiring time away from work are related to the process of delivering direct patient care
While nursing aides' manual handling knowledge is adequate, they rarely use mechanical aids. This is partly due to an over-reliance on their strength and abilities, lack of suitable mechanical aids on the wards, or a lack of familiarity with the available lifting aids. Neither training alone, nor the purchase of equipment alone, is likely to resolve manual handling problems

6. Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
The US National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that health care workers lift a maximum of 35 lbs. for any direct resident movement activities.
The average direct health care worker (e.g. nurses or STNA’s lifts 1.8 tons per day!
The most common injury to direct health care workers is in the lower back. other common injuries are to shoulders, wrists and hands, and knees.
These injuries can be due to a single incident or repetitive motions such as reaching into a high cupboard to put away supplies

7. Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
The most common movement tasks that can result in injury to STNA’s includes transfers from toilet to chair, chair to bed, bathtub to chair, bed to stretcher, bed to wheelchair or other type of chair, and repositioning of residents in bed or chair.
The other most common tasks done by an STNA that result in injury include weighing residents, making beds, feeding, bathing, dressing, or toileting activities for residents in bed, stocking supplies, laundry tasks, and applying anti-embolism or compression stockings

8. Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
Equipment that has been associated with increased injuries includes food trays, waste baskets, heavy or deep carts, and manual beds

9. Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
Personal factors that relate to injuries among STNA’s include
Age
Genetics
Psychosocial Factors
Job Dissatisfaction
Monotonous Nature of Work
Limited Control of Job Factors at Work Site

10. Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
Excellent principles to protect your back at work
Keep your back in a balanced, powerful position
Plan movements in advance
Ask for help for lifting over 50 lbs.
Avoid staying in one position for a long time
Spread your feet apart to form a wide, stable base of support
Pivot with your feet, not your back
Keep your stomach muscles firm, especially when lifting
Keep items close to your body when carrying
Use a power lift by bending at your hips, and keeping the natural curve of your spine (chest up, seat out)

11. Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
Specific Ergonomic Factors Include
Force
Repetition
Awkward positions
Vibration
Contact stress (rubbing against things or people)
Distances required to reach away from your center of gravity
Reaching very high or very low

12. Specific Ergonomic Factors Include
Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
Specific Ergonomic Factors Include
Force
Use wheels or carts to reduce force needed to move heavy objects

13. Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
Specific Ergonomic Factors Include
Repetition- Avoid tasks that require repeated use of excessive force and movement of especially, hands and wrist

14. Specific Ergonomic Factors
Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
Specific Ergonomic Factors
Awkward positions- avoid excessive rotation or bending of your back

15. Specific Ergonomic Factors Include
Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
Specific Ergonomic Factors Include
Vibration- If you do happen to use tools that vibrate during your job – for example a back massager or electric toothbrush- excessive use can lead to problems with muscles and nerves of the upper body

16. Specific Ergonomic Factors Include
Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
Specific Ergonomic Factors Include
Contact stress (rubbing against things or people)

17. Specific Ergonomic Factors Include
Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
Specific Ergonomic Factors Include
Distances required to reach away from your center of gravity

18. Specific Ergonomic Factors Include
Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
Specific Ergonomic Factors Include
Reaching very high or very low

19. Energy conservation and Work simplification
Respect proper reaching limits Organize and gather all supplies beforehand Lift with legs not back or arms Sit to work when possible Use equipment to help

20. Resident Factors Include
Ergonomic Issues related to safe movement of residents and other tasks completed by STNA’s
Resident Factors Include
Amount of Assistance Needed
Weight
Level of Understanding (Cognitive Function)
Medical Complications

21. Suggestions to Reduce Injuries
Clue the Resident to What You Are Going to be Doing
Get Help for Tasks That are High Risk
Check your Footing Before Attempting to Lift Objects
Move Close to the Resident or Object

22. Suggestions to Reduce Injuries
Teach Others to Apply These Principles
Report Incidents of Unsafe Behavior or Activities
Remove any Clutter or Obstacles
Use the Guidelines Provided from Resident Assessments to Provide the Appropriate Type of Transfer or Movement Using the Appropriate Equipment

23. General Health and wellness
Job satisfaction
Monotonous aspects of job
Improving job control internal control of job conditions
Avoiding alcohol and tobacco
Balanced lifestyle
Communication at work and home
Time management
Stress Management at work and home
Exercise